Paintball Trends
By Anthony Sakakeeny, Thu Dec 8th

Since 1981, players have been shooting each other withmarble-sized pellets of paint using a special gun called amarker. Players launch their paint pellets by pressing a triggerthat releases compressed air or gas to propel the outof the marker towards the target. New playersunfamiliar with their equipment have always had questions aboutwhether compressed air offers an advantage over carbon dioxide(CO2). Is compressed air really better than carbon dioxide? Toput it simply, YES!

Inside your tank, carbon dioxide is primarily inliquid form. As the carbon dioxide expands, the liquid turnsinto gas. In its expanded gas state, carbon dioxide can serve asa stable pressure that will enable your gun to propelpaintballs. Liquid carbon dioxide, however, can have adevastating effect on your gun’s performance. The presence ofliquid carbon dioxide inside a marker can freeze thegun’s inner seals and cause cracks and leaking. Carbon dioxideis unreliable because it’s sensitive to outside temperatures andthe velocity with which you shoot. The faster you shoot, thecolder your tank will get, decreasing the likelihood of

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carbondioxide converting from liquid to gas, and thus increasing thechance of liquid CO2 entering your marker.

Compressed air, on the other hand, is a much more stablepropellant source for a marker. While temperaturechanges can alter the pressure inside a carbon dioxide tank anddrastically impact the performance of a marker, externaltemperatures do not affect compressed air tanks. The performanceof compressed air tanks and their ability to produce aconsistent stable pressure is consistent in any climate. It’salso cleaner than carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can containdust and dirt that will clog air paths and valves in yourmarker. Compressed air is typically very clean. Most compressorsused to fill compressed air tanks are “S.C.U.B.A.” compressorswith air filters that produce grade E breathing air. If it’ssafe enough to breathe, it’s safe enough for your gun!In addition to its stability, compressed air is cheaper thancarbon dioxide, and the price continues to fall. Many paintballfacilities are moving exclusively to compressed air rentalequipment, and carbon dioxide products will eventuallybe obsolete. Given the performance differences between carbondioxide and compressed air markers, the industry is clearlyheading in the direction of compressed air. You can no longerafford to use carbon dioxide equipment—switch to compressed airnow!

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About the author:Anthony Sakakeeny founded Sak World Paintballin 1998. Sak World provides state of the art productsonline, featuring guns, barrels, nitrogen tanks and apparel.Visit Sak World today to purchase new and usedpaintball equipment and gear at affordable prices.